2019 State of the Union Address

Coordinates: 38°53′19.8″N 77°00′32.8″W / 38.888833°N 77.009111°W / 38.888833; -77.009111
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

2019 State of the Union Address
Full video of the speech as published by the White House
DateFebruary 5, 2019 (2019-02-05)
Time9:00 p.m. EST
Duration1 hour, 22 minutes[1]
VenueHouse Chamber, United States Capitol
LocationWashington, D.C.
Coordinates38°53′19.8″N 77°00′32.8″W / 38.888833°N 77.009111°W / 38.888833; -77.009111
TypeState of the Union Address
Participants
FootageC-SPAN
Previous2018 State of the Union Address
Next2020 State of the Union Address
WebsiteFull text by Archives.gov

The 2019 State of the Union Address was given by the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump, on February 5, 2019, at 9:00 p.m. EST, in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives to the 116th United States Congress. It was Trump's second State of the Union Address and his third speech to a joint session of the United States Congress. Presiding over this joint session was the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, accompanied by Mike Pence, the vice president, in his capacity as the president of the Senate.

It was the first address to a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives since 2010.

The Democratic Response was given by

California Attorney General and former U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra.[2][3][4]

The Address was watched by 46.8 million viewers, and aired live on 12 major television networks. Viewership statistics do not include views from online live streams. There were also 15.2 million interactions regarding the Address on social media.[5]

Background

United States Constitution states that the president "shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."[6]

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi sent an invitation to President Donald Trump on January 3, 2019, to deliver a "State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 in the House Chamber." The invitation was sent just hours after her election to Speaker of the House.[7][8][9] On January 6, President Trump commented to reporters that "I will be making the State of the Union on January 29. And I look forward to it. I look forward to it. And I look forward to speaking, really, before the world. We have a lot of great things to say."[10][11]

The

designated survivor.[13]

Postponement

Originally scheduled for January 29,

month-long shutdown of the federal government, citing fears of security concerns regarding unpaid Secret Service members, the President could reschedule the Address or submit a written State of the Union to Congress.[15][16][17][Notes 1][18] Pelosi formally communicated on January 23 that a resolution authorizing the speech in the House chamber would not be considered until the shutdown had ended.[19] Trump, who had earlier mulled giving the speech in an alternative location,[20] announced he would wait to give the State of the Union Address after the end of the shutdown.[21]
The shutdown was suspended on January 25,[22][Notes 2] and on January 28, Pelosi issued an invitation for Trump to deliver the Address in the Capitol Building on February 5, 2019.[23] On the same day, Trump accepted Pelosi's proposed date.[24][25]

Address

Photo taken during the 2019 State of the Union address

The State of the Union Address was given at 9:00 p.m. EST on February 5, 2019. President Trump began the address without an introduction from Speaker Pelosi, breaking with a SOTU custom.[26] During the speech, Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi sat behind Trump. U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry was named the designated survivor and was at an undisclosed location during the address so that, in case of a catastrophe, the continuity of government would be upheld.[13]

The speech lasted 82 minutes, making it the third longest State of the Union Address.

War in Afghanistan
.

During the address, President Trump announced his

Kim Jong-un. The summit took place on February 27–28, 2019 in Vietnam.[27]

In his Address, Trump asserted that "The savage gang

Long Island (New York), and the Washington, D.C. metro area. The Washington Post also concluded that 1,332 illegal alien members of MS-13 were deported in fiscal year 2018.[30]

Protests

A group of female Democratic members of Congress wore white to highlight women's rights

A group of female Democratic members of Congress and their guests wore white (the color of the

women's suffrage movement) to bring notice to women's rights.[31][32] Steny Hoyer also handed out white ribbons to males.[32]

Each member of Congress is allowed to bring one guest and several Democratic members of Congress brought various guests to send a message.[32] Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought a sexual assault survivor,[33] Pramila Jayapal brought a climate change scientist,[34] and Ilhan Omar brought an undocumented immigrant threatened with deportation.[35]

Several Democratic members of congress boycotted Trump's speech in protest, including Earl Blumenauer, Steve Cohen, John Lewis, and Hank Johnson.[36]

Notable invitations

Responses

On January 29, 2019, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that Stacey Abrams would deliver the Democratic response to 2019 State of the Union Address. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra gave the Spanish-language response.[2][3][4]

The response by the Libertarian Party was given by Jeff Hewitt.[42][43] Independent Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) also gave a response to the address.[44][45]

Coverage

The State of the Union Address was televised on all the major U.S. broadcast and cable television networks. Facebook and Twitter streamed the address online.[46]

Viewership

  Broadcast news channels

  Network news channels

Reactions

Polls conducted by CBS gauged approval of speech, viewership, among other things. A poll by CBS found 76% of people approved of the speech.[48] Another poll by CBS based on party identification found that 43% of Republicans, 24% of Democrats, and 30% of Independents watched the address.[48] Another poll based on party identification found that 97% of Republicans, 30% of Democrats, and 82% of Independents approved the message of the speech.[48]

Polls conducted by CNN gauged approval of speech, policy approval, among other things.[49] 59% of viewers approved the President's address.[49] 71% of viewers thought that the President's policies were moving the country in the right direction; 76% on economy, 70% on trade and national security, 68% on immigration, and 65% on taxes.[49]

Fundraising by Trump's 2020 campaign

A fundraising effort by Trump's 2020 campaign on the days leading to the address and on the day of the address raised $2.4 million from 76,000 donors. His campaign displayed names of donors on a live streaming broadcast of the event on Donald Trump's Facebook page. This is comparable to fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign that occurred during the 2018 address that similarly included the display of names of donors on a streaming broadcast online.[50]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ In Pelosi's January 16 letter, she wrote that in September 2018, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen had designated State of the Union Addresses as National Special Security Event (NSSEs) in 2018 to ensure adequate security for the events which requires weeks of preparation. Nielsen responded by saying DHS was "fully prepared" for the Address.
  2. ^ The terms of ending the shutdown allow three weeks for Congress to negotiate and potentially pass a new funding bill. Failure to pass a bill by that deadline could result in another shutdown.

Citations

  1. ^ a b "Longest State of the Union speech? So close ..." NBC News. February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Levine, Marianne (January 29, 2019). "Stacey Abrams to give Democratic response to State of the Union". Politico. Arlington County, Virginia: Capitol News Company. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Pathé, Simone (January 29, 2019). "Stacey Abrams to give Democratic Response to State of The Union Address". Roll Call. Washington, D.C.: FiscalNote. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Bernal, Rafael (January 29, 2019). "California AG Becerra to give Spanish-language SOTU Response". The Hill. Washington, D.C.: Capital Hill Publishing Corp. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  5. ^ "Nearly 47 Million Viewers Watch President Trump's State of the Union Address". www.nielsen.com. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "Constitution of the United States". United States Senate. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  7. ^ Griffiths, Brent D. (January 3, 2019). "Pelosi invites Trump to give State of the Union on Jan. 29". Politico. Arlington County, Virginia: Capitol News Company. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  8. ^ Watkins, Eli (January 3, 2019). "Pelosi invites Trump to deliver State of the Union on January 29". CNN. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  9. ^ Marcos, Christina (January 3, 2019). "Pelosi invites Trump to give State of the Union on January 29". The Hill. Washington, D.C.: Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  10. National Archives
    .
  11. ^ "Trump says look forward to State of the Union address to speak before world". The Times of India. Mumbai: The Times Group. January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  12. ^ Earl, Jennifer (January 9, 2019). "When is the 2019 State of the Union address? Everything to know about Trump's second speech to Congress". Fox News. New York City: Fox Corporation. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  13. ^ a b Fritze, John; Hayes, Christal (February 5, 2019). "Designated survivor for State of the Union address: Rick Perry". USA Today. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  14. ^ Pelosi, Nancy (January 4, 2019). "Speaker Nancy Pelosi (3 January 2019) Pelosi Invites President Trump to Deliver State of the Union Address". United States House of Representatives. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  15. Nash Holdings
    . Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  16. Nash Holdings
    . Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  17. ^ Allen, Jonathan; Shabad, Rebecca (January 16, 2019). "Pelosi asks Trump to move State of the Union or submit it in writing". NBC News. New York City: NBC. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  18. NBCUniversal Television Group
    . Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  19. ^ Ballhaus, Rebecca; Peterson, Kristina (January 23, 2019). "Trump, Pelosi Trade Barbs Over State of the Union Address". The Wall Street Journal. New York City: Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  20. ^ "'This is her prerogative': Trump gives in to Pelosi on State of the Union". POLITICO. January 23, 2019.
  21. ^ March, Mary Tyler (January 23, 2019). "Trump: I will deliver State of the Union 'when the shutdown is over'". The Hill. Washington, D.C.: Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  22. ^ Silbiger, Sarah (January 25, 2019). "Trump Signs Bill Reopening Government for 3 Weeks in Surprise Retreat From Wall". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  23. Disney–ABC Television Group. CNN
    . Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  24. ^ "Trump, Pelosi agree on Feb. 5 for State of the Union address". WJW. Cleveland: Tribune Broadcasting. Associated Press. January 28, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  25. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (January 29, 2019). "State of the Union Rescheduled, Stacey Abrams to Give Democratic Response — Which Shows Are Preempted?". TVLine. United States: TVLine Media, LLC (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  26. ^ Abrams, Abigail (February 5, 2019). "Donald Trump Did Not Wait for Nancy Pelosi to Introduce Him During the State of the Union". Time. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  27. ^ "Second Trump-Kim summit to be held in Vietnam on February 27–28". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  28. ^ "MS-13 gang member arrested in Queens subway shooting, 2 others sought". WABC-TV. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  29. ^ Lind, Dara (February 5, 2019). "Trump has a long history of fearmongering about immigrant murder". Vox. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  30. ^ Kessler, Glenn; Rizzo, Salvador; Kelly, Kelly (February 6, 2019). "Fact-checking President Trump's 2019 State of the Union address". Washington Post. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  31. ^ "Women send political message by wearing white to Trump's State of the Union". ABC News.
  32. ^ a b c Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (February 4, 2019). "How Democrats Are Using Guests to Send Messages at the State of the Union". New York Times.
  33. ^ "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's State of the Union guest is activist who confronted Jeff Flake in elevator". CBS News. February 5, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  34. ^ "The glaring hole in Trump's address: Climate change". Washington Post. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  35. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (February 4, 2019). "How Democrats Are Using Guests to Send Messages at the State of the Union". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  36. ^ "Democrats boycotting State of the Union 2019". Fox News.
  37. ^
    National Archives
    .
  38. ^ "What we know about the officers injured in synagogue shooting". WPXI. November 7, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  39. ^ Stanley-Becker, Issac (October 27, 2018). "In Pittsburgh, a Holocaust survivor was four minutes late to synagogue, escaping death a second time". Washington Post. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  40. ^ Miller, Ryan W. (February 5, 2019). "Anti-Semitism almost killed him – twice. At the State of the Union, Congress sang him 'Happy Birthday'". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  41. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  42. ^ "Libertarian Party's 2019 State of the Union Address". January 23, 2019.
  43. ^ Welch, Matt (February 5, 2019). "The Libertarian Party State of the Union: 'Americans deserve better' than 'Republicans and Democrats careen[ing] toward socialism and fascism'".
  44. ^ Rodrigo, Chris Mills (February 4, 2019). "Bernie Sanders to deliver his own State of the Union response". TheHill. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  45. The Huffington Post
    . Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  46. ^ Mathews, Liam (February 4, 2018). "How to Watch the State of the Union". TV Guide. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  47. ^ Katz, A.J. (February 6, 2019). "For the Second Consecutive Year, Fox News Is Most-Watched for Pres. Trump's State of the Union". TVNewser. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  48. ^ a b c "Most viewers approved of Trump's second State of the Union address". www.cbsnews.com. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  49. ^ a b c "Speech audience was most partisan since 2001". CNN. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  50. ^ Bedard, Paul (February 5, 2019). "Trump raises $2.4 million from 76,000 in SOTU pitch, a new record". Washington Examiner. Retrieved February 5, 2019.

External links

Preceded by
State of the Union Addresses

2019
Succeeded by